Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-07-29

Mr.. ravnor asked Us. at dinner. if
we had nG:icci the two girls with the
pretty hair in Mr.. Reades pew. and
said that he had heard that the one
with the blue eyes was the future Mrs.
Laurence Reade, and that it would be
an excellent match for both of them.
And that afternoon the heat and the
midges and the dust were worse than
ever.
The next day Haidee and l had to
go to the village shop with a list of
articles which | felt sure we would not
get there. But it was Mr. Rayner' 5
hobby to encourage local trade. so we
had to go once week and tease the
selfish old man, who was its sole repre-
sentative, for the few articles he kept.
As we passed Geldham Park l saw Mr..
Reade, his sisters and the two strangers
on the lawn AS we were going by
Mr.. Reade jumped up from the grass
where he had been reclining. l had
been in the shop some minutes tapping
vainly on the counter when Mr.. Reade
dashed into the shop and greeted me
with much surprise. When he had
asked after Mr.. and Mrs. Rayner there
was a pause. and he seemed to look to
me to continue the conversation; but |
could think of nothing to say. So he
roamed about, digging his cane into
the cheese and knocking down a jar of
snuff, which he carefully scraped to-
gether with his foot and shoveled back.
dust and all, into the jar, while l still
tapped and still nobody came.
HE must be at dinner" said I, re-
signedly. lin that case we shall have to
wait"
For ! knew Mr.. Bowles. So Mr..
r ade seated himself on the counter.
Convenient places these village
shops are." said he.
"Yes, if you don't care what you
get, nor how stale it is, said l, sharply
He laughed, but l did not intend to
be funny at all.
II came in only for some"-here he
looked round the shop and his eyes
rested on a pile of dusty toys-"for
some marbles. thought they would
do for the school-treat, you know"
was determined not to be drawn
into another tete-a-tete with him, so
turned to leave the shop. But he
stopped me.
"Old Bowles can't be much longer"
said he, rather pleadingly. "I-I
wanted to ask you if you were any bet
ter: l thought last Sunday you were
looking awfully ILL.,"
LAST Sunderland 1 thought OF
those girls. II was never better in
my life, thank you. And / am quite
we'll. Mr.. and Mrs. Rayner have put
mo into the turret to keep me out OF
the damp. 1t is the best room in all
the house."
Best room in the house? Then
Mr.. Rayner doesn't sleep in the house
at ALL" said he, in a low voice, but
with much decision.
l got up from the one chair and
turned to my pupil.
"Come. Haideer'
"No, no; that is revenge" said he.
Don't let us quarrel again. Mr.. Ray
ner is an angel. No. no, not that!"-
for I was turning away again. "Hs
has his faults; but he Is a. near perfec-
ton ~ a man can be. Then you are
very happy at the Alders now?"
Eyes, thank you"
"And you have no great troubles?"
Eyes. have-Sarah.'
"Sarah? That is one of the servants,
isn't itp'
Eyes. She is . very important per-
son in the household, much more SO
than Mrs. Rayner."
"Oh! And she is trouble to you?'
"Yes; I'm afraid of her. She doesn't
like me. And whenever used to give
her letters to post l never got any an
swers to them"
tapped vigorously on the counter
again, and Mr.. Bowles came in, declar-
ing it was the first sound he had heard.
He happened for a wonder to have a
few things I wanted, and, while he was
doing them up, Mr.. Reade found an
opportunity to whisper:
"You got my fowersp"
Eyes; thank you; it was very kind Of
you to send them"
bring them," corrected he. "What
did you do with them?''
remembered the fair-haired girl
and my resolve to be discreet.
II put them in water, and when they
were dead l threw them away"
'Threw them away?"
Eyes, of course; one doesn't keep
dead flowers" said l, calmly; but /,
hurt me to say it, for the words seemed
to hurt him. 1t is very hard to be dis
Greet.
He said no more, but took his parcel
and left the shop, saluting me very
coldly. Ihad taken up my parcel and
was going out too, when Haidee's soft
voice broke in:
you've got Mr.. Reade's marbles,
and he has gone off with mamma s
wool and the curtain-hooks, Miss
Christie!'
He had marched off so fast that had
to run down the lane after him before
he heard me call: "Mr. Reade!" W.
laughed a little at the mistake. And
then, remorseful and blushing, said,
hurriedly:
II. did keep one of the roses, Mr..
Reade-the one with the note on it,
and then l ran back to Haidee, without
looking up. Whether he was engaged
or not, l could not be ungracious about
those lovely flowers.
Then Haidee and went home t.
dinner.
To be continued.